Newsletter
The NYC Workforce Drop Podcast
Comptroller Mark Levine on AI, Fiscal Stewardship, and New York City’s Workforce
Greg sits down with New York City Comptroller Mark Levine for a wide-ranging conversation about public service, economic uncertainty, nonprofit infrastructure, and preparing New York City for the next economy.
Lauren Melodia on the True Cost of Care and New York City’s Economy
On this week’s episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, Greg sits down with Lauren Melodia, Director of Economic and Fiscal Policy at the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School, for a conversation about child care, affordability, economic justice, and building an economy that works for working New Yorkers.
Degan Mercado Leopold on Building Better Talent Pipelines
On this week’s NYC Workforce Drop, Degan Mercado Leopold, Chief Partnerships Officer at the New York Jobs CEO Council talks about what it takes to build a workforce system that creates real pathways to opportunity – not just one-off connections.
Jeffrey LeFrancois on Public Space, Neighborhood Stewardship, and Inclusive Economic Corridors
In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, Greg Morris sits down with Jeffrey LeFrancois, Executive Director of the Meatpacking District Management Association, for a wide-ranging conversation about civic life, economic development, housing, public space, politics, and the many ways New Yorkers build power by showing up.
Jennifer Mitchell on Housing, Reentry, and the Future of Workforce Development
In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, Greg Morris sits down with Jennifer Mitchell, President and CEO of The Doe Fund, to talk about why “A room and a job to pay for it” still matters and what it looks like in practice today.
Angie Kamath on Mid-Career Mobility, Career-Connected Education, and Economic Opportunity
Greg sits down with Angie Kamath, Dean of the NYU School of Professional Studies, for a conversation about career pivots, higher education, workforce systems, and what it really means to keep growing in a changing economy.
Ayesha George on Workforce Pathways, Equity, and Scaling Opportunity in New York City
Greg sits down with Ayesha George, Executive Director of STRIVE New York, for a conversation about leadership, second chances, career pathways, and the deeply human work of helping New Yorkers move toward economic mobility.
Miquela Craytor on Industrial Policy, Green Jobs, and Economic Mobility
Greg sits down with Miquela Craytor, Senior Advisor (former interim Executive Director, Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation (SBIDC), founder of Craytor Strategies, for a conversation about planning, power, environmental justice, industrial policy, and what it takes to build real economic opportunity in New York City.
Andrew Rigie on NYC’s Hospitality Economy: Jobs, Policy, and What It Takes to Operate
Andrew Rigie, Executive Director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance, joins Greg Morris for a conversation about restaurants, nightlife, small business survival, and what really happens behind the scenes in one of New York City’s most beloved industries.
Building a Workforce System That Works for Families with Anthony Barrows
Anthony Barrows, Executive Director of Lift New York and longtime advocate for economic justice and systems reform, joins Greg Morris for a conversation about poverty, public systems, and the role community plays in helping families thrive.
Brian Aquart on Building Healthcare Workforce Pipelines and Expanding Economic Opportunity
Brian Aquart—Vice President of Workforce & Community Education at Northwell Health, host of the Why I Left podcast, and founder of Storyline by Kingswood—joins Greg Morris for a conversation on leadership, resilience, and building clearer pathways into healthcare careers.
Gary P. Jenkins on Supportive Housing, Systems Leadership, and Workforce Access
Gary P. Jenkins—CEO of Urban Pathways and former NYC Department of Social Services Commissioner—joins Greg Morris for a conversation on leadership, resilience, and building systems that actually work for New Yorkers.
Mini Episode: Carrying Forward Fred Shack’s Legacy
In this special mini episode, Greg Morris and Gary P. Jenkins take a moment to honor the life and legacy of Fred Shack, the longtime CEO of Urban Pathways and a tireless advocate for New Yorkers experiencing homelessness.
Aldrin Bonilla on the True Cost of Living in NYC
In Part Two of this two-part conversation, Aldrin Bonilla, Executive Vice President of the Fund for the City of New York, joins Greg Morris to unpack the findings behind the Fund’s latest “Overlooked and Undercounted” True Cost of Living brief and why it demands urgent attention.
Chris Quinn on Housing Stability and Economic Mobility
Christine Quinn—President and CEO of Women In Need (WIN), former New York City Council Speaker, and one of the city’s most passionate advocates—joins Greg Morris for a conversation on leadership, housing, and what it takes to make change stick in New York City.
Latest News
The Smartest Investment in New York Is New Yorkers
Gregory J Morris, Chief Executive Officer of NYCETC responds to last week’s New York Times feature on the job market for college graduates.
Fiscal Year 2027 Budget: NYCETC Statement and Analysis
Last week, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the City Council announced a $125.8 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget. The budget contains major investments in housing, transit, libraries, and CUNY, all of which are important levers for expanding economic mobility and connecting New Yorkers to good jobs and sustainable career pathways. In his remarks, Mayor Mamdani […]
Recap: NYC Council Workforce Development and Economic Development Committees Hold Oversight Hearing on The State of the Green Economy Action Plan
On June 26, 2026, the New York City Council’s Committee on Economic Development and Committee on Workforce Development held a joint oversight hearing on the state of the 2024 Green Economy Action Plan (GEAP).
Universal Childcare Is Free. The Workers Aren’t.
Six months after taking office, Mayor Mamdani and his administration have not backed down from the promise that helped power his unlikely path to City Hall: taking action to make New York City more affordable for working families.
NYC Workforce Board Digs in on Workforce Pell, WIOA Budget
The NYC Workforce Development Board held its spring quarterly meeting on Wednesday, June 3.
NYC falling behind other cities on adding high-paying jobs, housing units: report
Association for a Better New York, NYCETC, and HR&A jobs report featured in Crain’s New York Business.
Billions Invested. Now Comes the Hard Part: Why implementation will determine the success of New York State’s workforce commitments
New York’s FY2027 budget contains several significant workforce-related investments that deserve recognition. The state committed an additional $1.7 billion toward expanding affordable child care, bringing total child care funding to approximately $4.5 billion and extending services to nearly 100,000 additional children. This investment in child care is fundamentally workforce infrastructure. By expanding affordable child care, […]
100 Days In: Potholes Are Progress. Plumbing Is Power
Statement from New York City Employment & Training Coalition CEO, Gregory J. Morris
Today’s New York City Council Workforce Development Hearing Held Jointly with the Subcommittee on Early Childhood Education and Committee on Higher Education
New York City has been a national leader in public child care since World War II, when the LaGuardia administration became the first in the country to use municipal funds to subsidize child care, and one of only a handful of cities that kept those programs running after the war ended. That foundation became the […]
Honoring Frederick Shack
The New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC) mourns the loss of Frederick “Fred” Shack—a principled leader, a friend, and a relentless force for dignity and results.
Statement on New York City’s Fiscal Year 2027 Preliminary Budget
The preliminary budget fight between Mayor Mamdani and the City Council reveals a genuine tension — not just political posturing — over who bears the cost of fiscal instability, and what that means for the workers and communities that depend on city-funded services to get ahead. Mamdani’s $127 billion spending plan deserves credit for trying […]
Economic Development Corporation Preliminary Budget Hearing: The Signals—and the Stakes
On March 17, 2026, the New York City Council’s Committee on Economic Development held a budget oversight hearing for the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) with Committee Chair Virginia Maloney leading a sweeping review of EDC’s borough-wide portfolio at a moment of fiscal pressure, federal uncertainty, and growing demand for accountability on job […]
DYCD Preliminary Budget Hearing: Signals, Gaps, Next Moves
On March 16, 2026, the New York City Council’s Committee on Children and Youth held a budget oversight hearing for the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), with Committee Chair Althea Stevens pushing the agency on service delivery and program operations.
Recap: Workforce Development Committee Holds First Oversight Hearing
On February 27, 2026, the New York City Council’s newly formed Committee on Workforce Development convened its first-ever oversight hearing alongside the Committee on Higher Education, marking an important step in elevating workforce issues across City policy.
NYCETC Secures Federal Workforce Funding
Recently, NYCETC was selected to receive $125,000 in Federal Community Project Funding, secured by Senator Chuck Schumer and awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Media Coverage
Mamdani Eyes a McKinsey Partner to Lead Economic Development Team
Gregory J. Morris, Chief Executive Officer of NYCETC quoted in The New York Times.
Lyft partners with NYCETC to provide $50K in rides to job interviews
Gregory J. Morris on 1010 Wins.
Lyft is giving free rides to New Yorkers heading to job interviews and work
A Time Out feature on NYCETC and Lyft’s new pilot program designed to help New Yorkers overcome transportation barriers to employment.
Can America’s Best Engine of Social Mobility Weather a Bad Job Market?
Gregory J. Morris, Chief Executive Officer of NYCETC quoted in The New York Times.
Punching In: What Julie Su Learned Leading the Labor Department
NYCETC included in Bloomberg Law.
NYC falling behind other cities on adding high-paying jobs, housing units: report
Association for a Better New York, NYCETC, and HR&A jobs report featured in Crain’s New York Business.
Among Mamdani’s Priorities, Economic Development Seems Low on the List
Gregory J. Morris, Chief Executive Officer of NYCETC quoted in The New York Times.
City & State’s 2026 New York City Power 100
Gregory J. Morris, Chief Executive Officer of NYCETC is named to the Power 100 list.
MACNY Launches the Manufacturers Talent Institute to Develop the Next Generation of Skilled Talent in New York and Beyond
Gregory J. Morris, Chief Executive Officer of NYCETC quoted on the establishment of the Manufacturers Talent Institute.
Op-ed: You can’t deliver economic justice without employers at the table
A Crain’s New York Business op-ed by Kathy Wylde, former president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, and Gregory J. Morris, Chief Executive Officer of NYCETC.
What’s Going On – Labor Friday Edition
Gregory J. Morris joins Jenna Flanagan on WBAI’s “What’s Going On” to discuss the changes to SNAP work requirements.
Mamdani’s deputy mayor Julie Su didn’t officially start until this week
City & State includes a quote from Gregory J. Morris, NYCETC’s Chief Executive Officer in their article on the new administration.
Reports
Testimony
Policy Memorandum: Advancing Workforce Implementation of the Green Economy Action Plan
Prepared for the Joint Oversight Hearing of the New York City Council Committee on Workforce Development and Committee on Economic Development
New York City Council Oversight Hearing: Implementing the Green Economy Action Plan
Joint hearing with the Committee on Workforce Development and Committee on Economic Development
New York City Council Oversight Hearing: Early Childhood Educator Workforce Development and Pipeline
Joint hearing with the Committee on Workforce Development, Committee on Higher Education, and Subcommittee on Early Childhood Education.
New York City Council Oversight Hearing: Rebuilding the Municipal Workforce – Hiring Strategies for the New Administration
Hearing with the Committee on Civil Service and Labor.
New York City Council Oversight Hearing: Aligning Higher Education with Workforce Development
Joint hearing with the Committee on Workforce Development and Committee on Higher Education.
Press Releases
Lyft and New York City Employment and Training Coalition Launch Pilot Program to Help New Yorkers Access Jobs
Program provides transportation support for job interviews, training, and early employment opportunities— A Timely Private-Sector Response to Federal Safety Net Cuts
NYCETC Calls Workforce Development Essential to Implementing New York City’s Green Economy Action Plan
City Council hearing lays out urgent plan for New York City’s climate goals
More Jobs, Less Mobility: New Report Examines New York City’s Affordability Challenge
“Making Growth Matter” report from ABNY, NYCETC, and HR&A Advisors shows that, while NYC has regained jobs since the pandemic, growth is concentrated in lower-wage sectors.
NYCETC Welcomes Six New Board and Advisory Council Members to Strengthen Citywide Workforce Leadership
New leaders bring expertise across education, reentry, youth development, public sector strategy, creative careers, housing, health, and economic mobility
New Report Outlines Path to a Greener, More Affordable New York City Through Workforce Investment
NYCETC report highlights opportunity to create up to 360,000 jobs while lowering costs and strengthening climate resilience
17 New York City Workforce Organizations Selected for 2026 Workforce Benchmarking Network Cohort to Strengthen Economic Mobility Across the Five Boroughs
JPMorganChase and Pinkerton Foundation Grants Support Data Capacity and Systems Improvement Across NYC’s Workforce Ecosystem
NYCETC’s Conference, Advancing Affordability Through Jobs, Wages & Wealth, Drives Cross-Sector Action on Economic Mobility
Two-Day Convening Showcases Breakthrough Strategies, Cross-Sector Leadership, and the City’s Most Influential Workforce and Economic Opportunity Advocates
NYC Energy Efficiency Companies Launch Employer-Led Coalition to Catalyze Green Workforce Development and Market Transformation
Employer-led initiative to define career pathways, bridge talent gaps, and drive equitable growth across NYC’s energy efficiency sector
NYCETC Welcomes New and Returning Board Leaders to Champion Workforce Equity and Opportunity
Coalition Taps Sector Leaders to Steer Workforce Equity, Accountability, and Opportunity
New York City Employment and Training Coalition Advances 2025 Workforce Benchmarking Network Cohort
Driving Accountability and Data-Driven Performance Across NYC’s Workforce Development Sector
NYCETC Publishes Early Learnings from the Tech Bridge Grant Program
The program empowers grantees to expand access into New York City’s growing tech workforce through equitable, community-driven pathways.
New Report: Putting Our Dollars to Work
$640M in Citywide Workforce Spending, Majority of Funding Bypasses Prime-Age Workers in Need